People readily hold mutually contradictory conspiracy beliefs simultaneously.

Evidence

Fascinatingly, other studies show that people are able to believe in multiple conspiracy theories even when they’re logically contradictory: in my reporting, for example, I’ve seen people claim that both vaccines and a weed killer called Roundup are responsible for increased autism rates. (In an attempt to split the difference, some folks say that Roundup somehow made its way into the vaccines.) — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 94

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the general finding that anti-establishment distrust is the operative driver, not internal consistency — resonates with cognitive literatures on motivated reasoning and identity-protective cognition. — connects to: People hold logically contradictory beliefs when elements aren’t subjectively linked.; Contradictory perceptions can both be true simultaneously — , A Year of World Stories, 4077; People hold central beliefs far more rigidly than peripheral ones — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 2631 (+8 more)

Broader Connections

• People hold logically contradictory beliefs when elements aren’t subjectively linked. #expands (0.90)
• Stereotypes can hold logically contradictory attributions against the same group #exemplifies (0.80)
• The same perceiver holds mutually contradictory stereotypes about one group #exemplifies (0.80) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1371
• Copying others’ opinions rather than criticizing them yields contradictory compartmentalized beliefs #expands (0.80) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1209
• Contradictory perceptions can both be true simultaneously #expands (0.75) — , A Year of World Stories, 4077
• People hold central beliefs far more rigidly than peripheral ones #expands (0.70) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 2631
• People can hold mutually exclusive views without believing either #qualifies (0.70) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 2481